While the French were slowly moving south from Canada to explore, claim land, and to settle around Lake Champlain, other countries were also busy. In 1620, just eleven years after Samuel de Champlain took his canoe into Lake Champlain, the Pilgrims sailed their ship, the Mayflower, into Plymouth Bay in Massachusetts to begin a settlement there.
The English kings and queens wanted North America settled for England. Other groups of Englishmen soon followed the Pilgrims. They built settlements in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, all of which surrounded what is now Vermont. But the British wanted more land. In the early 1700’s, they tried to take areas that the French had claimed, but the French fought back.
For many years the English and the French fought over who would control the northeast corner of America. The clashes between the British and the French led to the French and Indian War (1754-1763).
"This is our land," said the French governors, looking south from Canada.
“This is our land” said the English leaders, looking north from Massachusetts.
"No, this is our land," cried the Iroquois and Algonquins, looking angrily at each other, and looking fearfully at the Europeans who were squeezing them from both sides. Since Vermont was located directly between the English settlements in Massachusetts and the French settlements in Canada, it was a dangerous area in which to live. Few people came to settle in Vermont during this time.
The Native Americans continued to be a major threat to the English and French settlers. Forts were built for protection, many along Lake Champlain, which was the major route for Native American war parties. As you learned earlier, in 1690, the English built a fort at Chimney Point. About 300 settlers moved from Massachusetts to this new fort.
More English settlers continued to drift north from Massachusetts into what is now southern Vermont. These new settlers lived in constant fear of Native American attacks. The French and their allies, the Algonquins, fought the English, and told them they were wicked people and should be driven from their settlements. The English tried to influence the Iroquois to fight the French, and chase them away from Lake Champlain and Canada. English captives were marched to Canada and held prisoner until friends and family could raise enough money to buy them back! Records show that there were 1,196 English settlers captured and taken to Canada from New England during the French and Indian Wars.
In 1724, the acting governor of Massachusetts, William Dummer, became angry and cried, “We need more forts to stop all this kidnapping and raiding!” So Fort Dummer was built on the Connecticut River near the present town of Brattleboro. Fort Dummer is considered the first permanent settlement in the area we now know as Vermont. The settlers of the fort tried to be friendly with the local Native Americans. They built the Native Americans a trading post where many groups could come and trade their furs.
The Native Americans who gave the English the most trouble were the St. Francis Indians. They were very cruel and killed many English settlers. To stop these Indians, Major Robert Rogers and a group of 200 men called the Rangers, led a raid on the St. Francis village. More than 200 Native Americans in the village, located on the Missisquoi River near the present day Swanton, were killed. This made the frontier safer for the English, but was a black day for the Native Americans.
In 1763, the French and Indian Wars came to an end, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which gave Britain all French claims east of the Mississippi River, including Vermont. As a result, Britain gained control of Lake Champlain and its trading routes. The English won Canada from the French and the French gave up all their claims in North America. Many French people, however, continued to live in Canada.
Information included from: Uniquely Vermont by Emily Raabe Vermont by Learner Publications Company
While the French were slowly moving south from Canada to explore, claim land, and to settle around Lake Champlain, other countries were also busy. In 1620, just eleven years after Samuel de Champlain took his canoe into Lake Champlain, the Pilgrims sailed their ship, the Mayflower, into Plymouth Bay in Massachusetts to begin a settlement there.
The English kings and queens wanted North America settled for England. Other groups of Englishmen soon followed the Pilgrims. They built settlements in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, all of which surrounded what is now Vermont. But the British wanted more land. In the early 1700’s, they tried to take areas that the French had claimed, but the French fought back.
For many years the English and the French fought over who would control the northeast corner of America. The clashes between the British and the French led to the French and Indian War (1754-1763).
"This is our land," said the French governors, looking south from Canada.
“This is our land” said the English leaders, looking north from Massachusetts.
"No, this is our land," cried the Iroquois and Algonquins, looking angrily at each other, and looking fearfully at the Europeans who were squeezing them from both sides. Since Vermont was located directly between the English settlements in Massachusetts and the French settlements in Canada, it was a dangerous area in which to live. Few people came to settle in Vermont during this time.
The Native Americans continued to be a major threat to the English and French settlers. Forts were built for protection, many along Lake Champlain, which was the major route for Native American war parties. As you learned earlier, in 1690, the English built a fort at Chimney Point. About 300 settlers moved from Massachusetts to this new fort.
More English settlers continued to drift north from Massachusetts into what is now southern Vermont. These new settlers lived in constant fear of Native American attacks. The French and their allies, the Algonquins, fought the English, and told them they were wicked people and should be driven from their settlements. The English tried to influence the Iroquois to fight the French, and chase them away from Lake Champlain and Canada. English captives were marched to Canada and held prisoner until friends and family could raise enough money to buy them back! Records show that there were 1,196 English settlers captured and taken to Canada from New England during the French and Indian Wars.
In 1724, the acting governor of Massachusetts, William Dummer, became angry and cried, “We need more forts to stop all this kidnapping and raiding!” So Fort Dummer was built on the Connecticut River near the present town of Brattleboro. Fort Dummer is considered the first permanent settlement in the area we now know as Vermont. The settlers of the fort tried to be friendly with the local Native Americans. They built the Native Americans a trading post where many groups could come and trade their furs.
The Native Americans who gave the English the most trouble were the St. Francis Indians. They were very cruel and killed many English settlers. To stop these Indians, Major Robert Rogers and a group of 200 men called the Rangers, led a raid on the St. Francis village. More than 200 Native Americans in the village, located on the Missisquoi River near the present day Swanton, were killed. This made the frontier safer for the English, but was a black day for the Native Americans.
In 1763, the French and Indian Wars came to an end, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which gave Britain all French claims east of the Mississippi River, including Vermont. As a result, Britain gained control of Lake Champlain and its trading routes. The English won Canada from the French and the French gave up all their claims in North America. Many French people, however, continued to live in Canada.
Information included from:
Uniquely Vermont by Emily Raabe
Vermont by Learner Publications Company